Cargo is Priority
Sep 30, 2015, 10:07 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LA
Posts: 1,281
Cargo is Priority
UGH....arrived into SLC early today and we ended up sitting on the plane for nearly 1 hour. Pilot informed us that they have to use our gate to pull a plane in and unload cargo first. I understand cargo brings in some big bucks for UA, but if no pax on the plane, why do they have to pull it up to a gate and take up limited gate slots they have to do this, let alone, telling pax that they are basically secondary to the cargo. If UA wants to be a transport company for packages, then quit flying passengers and become the new FedEx
Sep 30, 2015, 10:36 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: 1K
Posts: 784
That's not even the worst. Imagine your checked bag not making it to the destination because cargo was given priority to your belongings. It happens.
Oh, and there is often an "embargo" on checked bags to South American destinations. This is so that they can transport cargo instead of excess baggage.
Both scenarios make me delighted and surprised.
Flyer Friendly
Oh, and there is often an "embargo" on checked bags to South American destinations. This is so that they can transport cargo instead of excess baggage.
Both scenarios make me delighted and surprised.
Flyer Friendly
Sep 30, 2015, 10:59 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,060
Oct 1, 2015, 3:23 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SRQ
Programs: UA Plat-Million Miler (1.6MM), IHG-Plat Amb; Amex Plat-P, Marriott-Gold;Hertz Gold; Hilton-Gold
Posts: 762
That's not even the worst. Imagine your checked bag not making it to the destination because cargo was given priority to your belongings. It happens.
Oh, and there is often an "embargo" on checked bags to South American destinations. This is so that they can transport cargo instead of excess baggage.
Both scenarios make me delighted and surprised.
Flyer Friendly
Oh, and there is often an "embargo" on checked bags to South American destinations. This is so that they can transport cargo instead of excess baggage.
Both scenarios make me delighted and surprised.
Flyer Friendly
Oct 1, 2015, 4:06 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 186
Sounds like you have a good thing to submit here: https://unitedairtime.com !
Oct 1, 2015, 4:58 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Avis First, Hertz PC
Posts: 575
Airlines will also offload/IDB/VDB passengers in order to carry extra cargo. Many of these decisions are made prior to loading the aircraft with either cargo or passengers.
Sometimes airlines see a bigger financial downside to delaying cargo than passengers (see CoC and/or oligopolization of routes). The cost to delay passengers is often very low. We are in an era when many flyers pick United because United was $20 cheaper (some studies put it as low as a few dollars) in an online search. United believes they can make up for their shortcomings on price/discounting/network size. This is one example, but it is not unique to United.
Sometimes airlines see a bigger financial downside to delaying cargo than passengers (see CoC and/or oligopolization of routes). The cost to delay passengers is often very low. We are in an era when many flyers pick United because United was $20 cheaper (some studies put it as low as a few dollars) in an online search. United believes they can make up for their shortcomings on price/discounting/network size. This is one example, but it is not unique to United.
Oct 1, 2015, 6:14 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,704